Folding top for vehicles.



No. 745,022. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

T. A. LOFTUS. FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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' WITNESSES; INVENTOR.

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HE Noam: PETERS co, PHOTO-LIYHD was; msmw a c UNITED Sra'rns Patented November 24, 1903.

THOMAS A. LOFTUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,022, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed May 4, 1903. Serial No. 155,585. (No model.)

To all whom, it flea/y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. Learns, a citizen of the United States, residing at 177 South Albany avenue, city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tops for Vehicles, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction and method of extending and bringing together thestays forming theframework of the top, and has for its objects the construction of a cheap, light, and serviceable folding top especiallyadapted to wagons and other vehicles having a lengthy body. I attain these objects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in.

Which- Figure l is an elevation of a wagon box or body and of the top in an extended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with'the top folded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 4 represents a chain or other flexible means, preferably placed upon the inside of the stays of the top and secured at its forward end to rod 5. To said chain 4 are attached at regular intervals the lower ends of the stays of the top, so that when said top shall be fully extended the said chain will be taut. At or near the rear end of the chain and forming a part thereof I provide a coil-spring 9 and means of removably attaching said end to the box or body of the vehicle. By this means any slack or wear in the chain or in its connections is taken up, and thus the lower ends of said stays are held firmly in their proper place. The same results may be obtained by attaching the spring portion to the box or body of the vehicle; but I prefer the method first described.

5 is a rod removably attached at each end to the box or body of the vehicle.

6 and 8 represent any suitable means adapted to receive and retain the rear end of chain 4 when the top shall be extended or folded, as the case may be.

7 represents a simple U strap joint, the upper ends of which are adapted to embrace the lower end of the stays and the middle portion to closely but loosely embrace rod 5, thus permitting said stays to slide forward or backward upon rod 5.

9 represents the jointed rod now in common use upon folding tops for vehicles and is used in the customary way.

To extend a folded top of my invention, the rear end of chain 4 is removed from fastening 8 and the stays slid backward upon rod 5 until said chain is made taut, when the same is fastened to the rear end of the box or body by the means 6 there provided for that purpose. The jointed rods 9 are then straightened in the usual way.

What I claim as my invention is 1.. In a folding top for vehicles, the combination of a plurality of stays forming the frame of the top, means for slidably connecting their lower ends to the vehicle box or body, and means for connecting together the lower ends of the stays consisting of a flexible device detachably connected at one end and permanently connected at the other, substan tially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a folding topfor vehicles, the combination of a plurality of stays forming the frame of the top, means for slidably connecting their lower ends to the vehicle box or body, and means for connecting together the lower ends of the stays consisting of a flexible device detachably connected at one end and permanently connected at the other end and comprising a spring as a part thereof, substantially as set forth.

THOMAS A. LOFTUS.

Witnesses:

WM. B. Moons, EDWARD MCTIERNAN. 

